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J. H. SAGER.

CUSHION FOR BICYCLE SADDLES.

NO. 562,919. Patented June 80, 1896.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

JAMES H. SAGER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE SAGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CUSHION FOR BlCYCLE-SADDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,919, dated June 30,1896. Application filed September 29,1894. Serial No. 524,531. (Nomodel.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. SAGER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Rochesteigin the county of Monroe and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful Cushion forBicycle-Saddles, of which the following is a specification, referenoebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a top planView of one of my cushions. Fig. 2 is a section on the line .50 cc ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of my cushions having annularpneumatic pads. Fig. 4 is a section on the line y y of Fig. 3, and Fig.5 is a top plan. View of a bicycle-sad die showing my cushion fastenedthereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a detachable cushion forapplication to bicycle saddles, by means whereof an easy and hygienicseat is provided and in such a position as to relieve the rider fromcontact or friction with the saddle at all unnecessary points.

My invention consists in the device and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, A A are two bags, preferably circular, and made ofleather or of some material having a smooth surface, and provided with aslit or other opening a on the under side of each. These two bags areconnected by a web B, fastened to each so as to be held at a suitabledistance apart. The web may be of leather, canvas, or other suit-ablematerial. On the under side of the web and in. the middle thereof is abuckle 0. (Shown in dottedlines in Figs. 1 and 3.) To the rear edge ofthe web are attached suitable straps D, which are adapted to be fastenedin the buckle C. On the outer sides of the bags A A are a strap andbuckle E E, as shown.

Inside of each bag A is a pneumatic cushion F, Figs. 1 and 2, from whichextends a suitable inflating-tube f. The cushions F F are thus held sideby side by an inclosing case In Figs. 3 and 4 an annular cushion-F isshown.

Broadly, pneumatic saddles, single annular cushions, and stuifedcushions are known in this art, but no such device known to meaccomplishes the objects of my invention. My flexible cushion fits anysaddle and lies closely upon it. The independent pneumatic pads do notpermit air to pass from one to the other and if either is damaged, itmaybe easily replaced. The pneumatic pads fit any rider, whatever may behis contour, position, or movements, and hence whether the pads areannular or spheroidal, they give the rider a secure seat,which ispleasant in everyposition which he may take. If a single pneumaticcushion or a single annular cushion is fully inflated, the seat is toorigid and the rider slips about overthe surface of the cushion. If it isnot fully inflated, pressure on one side causes the air to move to theother side, so that the cushion is not uniform in softness or fit onboth sides, and this movement of the air moves the rider in a mannerwhich is not only disagreeable, but interferes with his management ofthe bicycle; but if the two cushions, as in my device, are independent,an excess of pressure on one of them does not affect the other, and theseat is practicable and pleasant. These independent pneumatic cushionsare impressible to fit the rider and enable him to retain a fixedposition and a firm seat upon the saddle. Stuffed or padded cushions donot approach these results unless they are made to imitate the form ofmy device, comprising separate cushions which are annular, that is,depressed, or depressible and elastic at their centers, with adepression between the cushions in the middle of the saddle. Any suchcushion is within the scope of my invention. to fit different saddles,each pad is impressed or impressible to lit the rider, the cushion isdetachable from the saddle and, if preferred, each pneumatic or elasticpad is removable to be replaced.

The annular pneumatic cushion shown in Figs. 3 and at is preferred bysome riders to the form of cushion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as thecentral perforation of each cushion enables the rider to retain a fixedposition upon the saddle the more easily.

The slits a, through which the cushions are inserted into the bags A,may be closed by lacings, if so desired.

The device, after the cushions have been inflated, is placed upon thetop of any bicycle-saddle G, the straps E E are placed My cushion istherefore flexible around and under the saddle-leather, and are buckledto the proper tension; then the strap or straps D are drawn around thecantle end of the saddle and are fastened in the buckle C. The cushionis thus fixed rigidly in place upon the saddle at the cantle endthereof, with the pneumatic pads or cushions on each side of the middleline of the saddle. The rider sits upon the pneumatic cushions, slightlyabove the level of the saddle G, and the cushions, if inflated to theproper degree and not too much, provide a pleasant, firm, and easy seat.In case the rider desires to use his bicycle for racing, the cushionsmaybe quickly removed by unfastening the straps.

This cushion has obvious advantages foruse by riders of both sexes, andenables many persons to ride a bicycle who would be injured by using theordinary form of saddle.

What I claim is 1. A detachable cushion for bicycle-saddles consistingof a pair of independent cushions F depressed at their centers, aninclosing case having compartments A adapted to fit said cushion, eachcompartment having an opening a thereinto on the under side thereof,whereby the cushion may be inserted, a flexible connection between saidtwo compartments and means for fastening the cushion upon the cantle endof a bicycle-saddle with the pair of cushions one on each side of thelongitudinal medial line thereof.

2. A detachable cushion for bicycle-saddles consisting of a flexiblecase formed into two independent compartments A A each for a separatecushion F and having an opening a into each compartment on the underside thereof for the insertion of a cushion thereinto, a pair of strapsor fastenings E attached to the front end of said case and adapted toencircle the saddle at or about the middle thereof and a pair ofseparated straps or fastenings D adapted to bend around the cantle-barand to be fastened to the case on the under side thereof, whereby thecushions F are removable from said case and are fastened into said caseby the operation of fastening the same to the bicycle-saddle.

3. A detachable cushion for bicycle-saddles consisting of a pair ofindependent pneumatic cushions, and a flexible case havin g compartmentsand openings thereinto adapted to removably contain said pneumaticcushions side by side and provided with straps or other suitablefastenings whereby the device is adapted to be fastened on the cantleend of a bicycle-saddle.

4:. A detachable cushion for bicycle-saddles consisting of a pair ofindependent annular pneumatic cushions and a flexible inclosin g casehaving compartments and openings thereinto adapted to removably containsaid pneumatic cushions side by side and provided with straps or othersuitable fastenings whereby the device is adapted to be fastened uponthe cantle end of a bicycle-saddle.

JAMES H. SAGER.

\Vitnesses:

E. H. MARsnLLUs, CHARLES M. WILLIAMS.

